The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-07-21
Texas Grapes.


When the Spaniards first took posses
sion of Mexico their plan of civilization
was to put the natives to work. Evidence
of this labor is seen in many places.
Mines were opened; the rude pillow of the
times prepared the ground for wheat
and vegetables. They established mis-
sions and planted the vine from Catalan,
which grew and flourished in luxurious
manner, as the vineyards of Agnas, Cal
ientes, San L uis Potosi, Parras and
Quartro Cenegas testify. The production
of grapes brought the wine press, and
to-day the wines of Parras have become
famous; its "jerez" or sherry, when aged
is quite equal to the finest imported ar
ticle. Their mode of treating the abort
gines was an improvement on the plan
of the Anglo-Saxons, who took posses
sion of the country north of them.
These shrewd people traded the Indians
out of their native heath, and in
turn prom oted the hunting bust
ness syst I'm to keep them in saw
agery, granting great sections of
land for them to idle on, furnished them
with guns, powder, shot, clothing and
Texas beef. The consequence was, the
and in their sportive moments did not
hesitate to kill their white brother when
he trespassed upon their happy hunting
grounds.
The Spaniards, in early periods, planted
the vine in Ell Paso. and for many gener-
atoms it has greatly fourished, producing
something good to eat and drink. Ex-
perlments down the Rio Grande, and es
pecially at Laredo, have resulted favora-
bly, since the water works have been es-
tablished there and made it possible to
irrigate the vineyards. One of the most
gratifying results of grape culture in
Texas was first started by Captain Hatch,
about twenty-five years ago, at Ingleside,
on the east side of Corpus Christi bay. The
vines are set on a sandy soil, with
water quite near the surface. The vines
do not require rain or irrigation, as the
great economy of nature has supplied the
earth with sufficient moisture which the
root of the vine reaches. Hence, we have
results which are quite equal to the vine-
yards of France and Spain, making deli
cious table grape and wines of excellent
flavor. The scope of country that nature
has blessed with sub-irrigation is belt of
country between Corpus Christi and the
mouth of the Rio Grande, which seems to
be ordained for the growth of the grape.
This belt of country is about 16O miles
long, from 10 to 20 miles wide, skirting
the Laguna Madre. Its productive capac-
ity and value cannot be estimated until
population and intelligence are set to
work to developit.
Without going to middle, east or north
Texas, and showing the capacity of these
sections of the state for this production,
the grape culture alone between the Nueces
and the Rio Grande bids fair to rival
France in quality and quantity.
Question: Shall the political heresy of
the period, inaugurated by Kansas gov
ernor, with morbid appetite for flags,
and preachers, and short-haired women OF
that fair and bleeding land, be able to
destroy great industry of Texas by at
tempting to fasten upon our organic law
measures that infringe upon the rights of
individuals and personal privileges; take
from our revenue system a very large
sum; destroy vested and personal rights;
scattering noxious Mayhower seeds; at
tempting to place our statutes upon
Plymoth Rock and the Blue Laws Of Con-
necticut? The men who came to Texas
from all chimes and all countries twenty,
thirty, forty and fifty years ago, they and
their sons and their sons sons will come
to the front at the proper time and vote
down this fanaticism of the hour, and try
to preserve the moiety of civil rights
which has been accorded to us.
Respectfully, JOHN WILLETT.